Key container



Nov. 20?, 1945. s. H. GEFFNER KEY CONTAINER Filed March .28, 1944 0 Lg?.5., s'

,SAMUEL H. GEF/WER Patented Nov. 20, 1945 yUNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICEKEY CONTAINER Samuel H. Geffner, New York,`N. Y.

Application March 28, 1944, Serial No. 528,468

(Cl. 15G-40) l Claim.

This invention relates to a key container and it is one object of theinvention to provide a key container :or yholder which consists ofcompanion sections hinged `to each other along one side for opening andclosing movement and of such formation that when the container is closedit will be `at .and not bulky when placed in a persons pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key container whereinthe sections are equipped with retainer bars or `strips secured flatagainst inner faces of the sections at points spaced from each otherlongitudinally of the Vstrips so that a number of keys may be thrustunder -each strip and 'firmly held but permitted to be individuallyremoved for use.

Another Aobject vof the ,invention is to so form the strips that theyhave scalloped edges, thus providing each key-receiving portion withedges so curved that a key may be easily thrust under the strip andfirmly gripped by frictional binding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key container of suchconstruction that when a key is withdrawn from under a retainer strip itwill be entirely free from the container and may be very easily insertedinto a keyhole to unlock a door.

Another object of the invention is to provide the two sections of thecontainer with marginal beads or flanges which serve to reinforce themand to prevent a key from accidentally slipping out of place beneath aretainer strip and becoming lost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key container which issimple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and of suchformation that it may be conveniently carried in a pocket or purse.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved key container when closed.

Fig. 2 is a View showing the container open.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which thenap is held closed.

This improved key container resembles a change purse when closed andconsists of companion sections I and 2 which may be formed of leather orother suitable material. The outer iacings 3 and 4 of the two sections`are integral with each other and :formed from a sheet of pliableleather and, in order to stiffen kthe sections, there have been providedsheets 5 of thicker and stiier leather which are secured flat againstthe outer facing sheet yby lines of stitching l along their marginaledges. The stiffenving sheets 5 and 6 are spaced from each other inorder that the `portion 8 of the facing .sheet between inner ends of`the two stiffening sheets may serve as a hinge portion and integrallyunite the `tvvo sections I and 2 Vfor opening and closing movement.

Each-of the Asections has its marginal portions bordered by a frame -9formed of stiff leather or :other suitable material and, while eachframe has been shown of a unitary construction, it will be understoodthat separate strips of leather may be used for forming the frames.These frames have their outer marginal edge faces iiush with edges ofthe stiffening portions 5 and 6 and they are secured at against thestiffening sheets by thestitches 'I which secure the stiffening sheetsto the facing sheet. A retainer strip I0 for holding keys in placeextends transversely of each section I and 2 between side portions ofthe frames thereof, and, referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that eachretainer strip is formed integral with the frame 9 and secured at spacedintervals by stitches II which pass through the strips I0 and alsothrough' the stiffening sheets -5 and E, but have not been shown passingthrough the facing sheet as they would then be exposed externally of thecontainer and detract from its appearance. If desired, stitches may passthrough all theV thicknesses of material, or cement, heat, or othersuitablen securing means may be used, this being particularly true ifplastic or like material is used instead of leather. The portions of thestrips I0 between the lines of stitching II form loops I2 under whichkeys are to be confined, and edges I3 and I4 of these loops are curved,as shown in Fig. 2, alternate loops having their edges curved inopposite directions so that when a number of keys I5 are thrust intoplace through the loops and enter the loops through the ends having theinwardly curved edges I3, the keys will alternately extend in oppositedirections and each may be individually removed or inserted withoutinterference by adjacent keys. Since the ends of the loops under whichthe keys are first thrust when inserting them, are formed with inwardlycurved edges, the keys may be very easily thrust into place withoutcatching against ends of the loops. The strips I0 may be formed ofleather, fabric, elastic material such as rubberized fabric, or anyother suitable material.

The frames serve to reinforce the marginal portions of the two sectionsI and 2 and also cause the sections to be formed with internal pocketsor recesses of such depth that when keys are fitted through the loopsthey Will be lcountersunk in the sections and prevented from interferingwith closing of the container. In addition, the frames will constituteguards or abutment strips which will prevent the keys from accidentallyslipping free from the loops while a key is being withdrawn for use orreplaced. Since the keys may be entirely removed from the container whenthey are to be used, they may be conveniently held in a persons hand andthrust into a keyhole of a lock without the free use of the key beinginterfered With by a key container or a ring and bunch of keys hangingfrom a key in use. Cement or other equivalent may be used instead of thestitching I I for forming the loops.

One endportion of the sheet of leather from v which the facing sheets 3and 4 are formed eX- tends beyond the outer end of section I and forms afiap I6 which tapers toward its free end and terminates in a tongue I'Ifor engagement under a strap I 8 and holding the container closed. Thisnap is reinforced by a stiffening sheet I9 cemented or otherwise securedagainst its inner face, and since the ap and its tongue are stiffened,the tongue may be very easily thrust under the strap I8 when thecontainer is closed. A portion of thestiffening sheet forms a latch 20which acts very effectively to prevent the tongue from accidentallyslipping out of place under the strap I8.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A key container comprising a main sheet of pliable material, sheets forreinforcing and stiffening the main sheet disposed flat against theinner face of the main sheet and extending the full width thereof, onereinforcing sheet having an outer end even with an end of the mainsheet, the second reinforcing sheet having its inner end spaced from theinner end of the first reinforcing sheet, the main sheet having an endportion projecting from the outer end of the second reinforcing sheetand tapered to form a flap having a tongue intermediate its width,frames secured upon said reinforcing sheets and extending along ysideedges and end edges thereof, said frames each carrying a transverselyextending strip spaced from ends of the frame and having its endsconnected with side portions of the frame, each strip being secured atlongitudinally spaced points and between the said points being free andforming key-receiving loops each one having one end formed with aninwardly bowed arcuate edge and having its other end projectingoutwardly and formed with an outwardly bowed arcuate edge, adjoiningloops of each strip having their projecting ends extending in oppositedirections, said main sheet being folded between the spaced inner endsof said frames to close the key container and dispose the frames inconfronting relation to each other, and said flap being folded acrossends of the closed container and releasably secured to hold thecontainer closed.

SAMUEL H. GEFFNER.

